Venezuelan Constitutional Expert Hermann Escarr Speaks

April 30, 2014 @ 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm

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Join IPS’ Foreign Policy In Focus for a talk with Venezuelan law professor, Hermann Escarrá about the current situation in Venezuela, the dialogue for peace underway, and the constitution as an apt legal framework for resolving the political differences that exist. The discussion will be moderated by IPS boardmember, James Early. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to hear directly from an expert on the ground.

Hermann Escarrá is a professor of constitutional law at the Central University of Venezuela (UCV) and has also taught abroad. He is an Emeritus Professor, Honorary Professor, and holds three honorary doctorates. He co-authored the law on the Protection of Constitutional Rights, as well as the Venezuelan Constitution of 1999.

During the 4th republic (before the Chávez administration) he was a Senator and chaired the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Senate. He was also a member of the Presidential Constitutional Council and of the National Constituent Assembly where he chaired several committees, including the Constitutional Commission to draft the new Constitution. Escarrá was also a representative for Venezuelan to the UN and the OAS, specializing in human rights institutions.

He has published several books on international criminal procedural law and constitutional law, among them eight volumes titled “History of the Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic ” (2006 ) published by the Supreme Court and the Executive Directorate of the Judiciary. Most recently as an independent, he has drafted and pushed for a new anti-terrorist law as one means to confront the violent acts taking place in some pockets of the country today.